Speed

In an ideal situation when a defender is sliding with ball-handler, the lead hand (the hand on the side the ball-handler is going) should be up and the other hand, the point hand, should be down discouraging the crossover dribble.

All team grades 4-7 should be encouraged to execute fast break basketball. But to successfully fast break a critical concept that should be taught early is for players to run the two outside lanes of the floor wide.

We want our players to retain their intensity throughout the entire game but intensity and effort without smart principles of play can come back and hurt a team. One situation where intelligence must win out is saving the basketball from going out of bounds.

The fastest way to speed dribble, when their is no defender in front of them, is to alternate the dribbling hands (left to right or right left) so players take as few dribbles as possible when dribbling up the court. Watch this clip